Ian Fox wrote:
Fantastic result for Fanatic&#39;s Arnon. What board was he using ?

Hi Ian,

According to pictures from the event he was on a F2

21st August 2006 01:49 AM

James

RE: EC Silvaplana: Dagan wins Racing / Williams wins Slalom

The pictures on www.engadinwind.com are pretty cool. B)

What a weird venue! The lake looks frigid, and with those giant mountains all around it&#39;s funny that the wind isn&#39;t blocked. Is there some kind of thermal wind, or wind-tunnel effect there like at the Gorge?

Formula seems like the perfect class for elite racing (regional, national, professional, Olympic), because of the way it combines super-fast sailing with tactical courses.

20th August 2006 05:13 AM

Ian Fox

RE: EC Silvaplana: Dagan wins Racing / Williams wins Slalom

Fantastic result for Fanatic&#39;s Arnon. What board was he using ?

20th August 2006 04:17 AM

Windsurfing Office

EC Silvaplana: Dagan wins Racing / Williams wins Slalom

Press Release:

Arnon Dagan wins the marathon race and takes the triumph in Racing
Ross Williams wins the slalom at the Euro-Cup Silvaplana

+++ Kiel / Silvaplana (SWITZERLAND), August 19th 2006.

The final day of the Windsurfing Euro-Cup Silvaplana brought the event to a thrilling climax. Today the famous marathon race was sailed. It was this historical final race which decided about the victory in the discipline Racing as Ross Williams (GBR-83, Tabou, Gaastra) was fighting head to head with his hardest opponent Arnon Dagan (ISR-1, Fanatic, Neil Pryde) for top honours on the podium. The Israeli was able to continue with his exceptional performance from the day before and dominated the race, rightfully taking the triumph in Racing. But Williams can proudly relax on his triumph in the Slalom from the day before.

Since almost 30 years the marathon race is sailed in the Engadin. With five full laps around the Lake Silvaplana the racers have to go for even more then the famous marathon distance of 42 kilometres. Every year more than 100 competitors from all over the World travel to Switzerland for this unique race. Arnon Dagan dominated the challenge right from the start and was able to finish the race in 53 minutes and 48 seconds. The second place went to Ross Williams who had a fascinating duel with Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG-3, F2, Neil Pryde). Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED-8, JP, Neil Pryde) presented himself as one of the best young windsurfing talents on the third place with the current Formula Windsurfing Youth World Champion Robert Baldyga (POL-18, Starboard, Naish Sails) on his heals.

After four spectacular competition days with eight races including the final marathon race the competitors have two discards, so that each of them they can throw out his two worst results. After his overwhelming performance on the two final days and especially in the marathon race Arnon Dagan was able to pass Ross Williams and win the discipline Racing with 7.80 points. The former leader Ross Williams follows just 0.30 points behind with a total of 8.1 points. Gonzala Costa Hoevel sits firm on his third position with 18.00 points. Kuba Guzdeck (POL-13, Starboard, Naish Sails) got a little inconsistent on the last two days but could just defend his fourth position with 30.70 points against Alberto Menegatti (ITA-456, F2, North Sails) who accumulated 31.00 points.

In the discipline Slalom the decision was already made the day before in wind speeds between 14 and 23 knots. The first round and the semi finals didn?t bring any bigger surprises so that most of the favourites found their way into the final. There everthing seemed to be an easy game for Finian Maynard (KV-11, F2, Neil Pryde), the brand new IFCA Slalom World Champion from the British Virgin Islands. He had a perfect start and didn?t make any mistakes. But at the last mark he go stuck for a moment in the lighter breeze. This was the chance for which Ross Williams waited the full heat. Since the start he was on Finians heals raising the pressure to provoke mistakes. Now he sneaked on the inside and pumped away a little bit faster than the Speed World Record holder at his over 100kg. Accelerating towards the finish line Ross covered Finian which opened the door also for Arnon Dagan and Adriaan van Rijselberge (NED-2, JP, Neil Pryde) to pass the slalom giant. Finian only finished as fourth with the Swiss local Richard Stauffacher (SUI-31, Starboard, Neil Pryde) on his heals.

+++++

The official website of the event is www.engadinwind.com <http://www.engadinwind.com> . The official website of the Windsurfing Euro-Cup series with more information is www.euro-cup.org <http://www.euro-cup.org/> . Besides the reports and the results you will also find a live ticker on www.euro-cup.org <http://www.euro-cup.org/> . So check out the internet!